Bespoke packages of homecare support for children and young people.

We are looking to engage with providers delivering bespoke and intense packages of home support for children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism who are due for discharge from a Mental Health Tier 4 Bed.

Typically, this cohort of young people will have complex clinical profiles and historical experiences of trauma, abuse, childhood post-traumatic stress disorders, and attachment issues. This cohort are also likely to pose a significant risk to themselves or others within the context of their diagnoses and fluctuating mental health issues which may manifest as aggressive behaviours toward others, self-harm, suicidal ideation and attempt, and absconsion.

The common theme linking all such young people is the need to be supported in a reliable and consistent way to enable them to reintegrate back into a community setting successfully and sustainably, whilst reducing their readmission risk. There is likely to be an element of constant supervision and support with elements of personal care such as personal hygiene, dietary and fluid intake and administration of medications (or safety of any of the above). Staffing ratios will likely involve a minimum of 2:1 in the home setting and 3:1 in the community (at least initially upon discharge from hospital) delivered in a 24/7 wrap around care manner; this will also involve night waking staff. Staff working with this cohort of young people will require significant knowledge, skill and experience in learning disabilities, autism, mental health, challenging behaviour, trauma and attachment issues as a minimum.

We are looking for a diverse workforce to ensure a robust package of care that can be delivered safely and sustainably, where the individual can build a number of positive connections and relationships without risk due to planned/unplanned absences and where staff burnout can be avoided. Staff should be resilient and have clear mechanisms of support to protect their own wellbeing due to the intense nature of care delivery with this high-needs, high-risk group of people.

If this is a area of work you are interested in and would like further information please send your expressions of interest to: Clair.Mandara@essex.gov.uk by 12 noon on Wednesday 14th March 2022.